Govt.'s neglect of Science not consistent with its public statements at the recent "Historic" Bio-Conference

Govt.'s neglect of Science not consistent with its public statements at the
recent "Historic" Bio-Conference
Kaieteur News
Monday 10-01-2007

Dear Editor,

We have been saying for a long time that His Excellency, President Bharrat
Jagdeo, and his ruling elite do not understand science and its absolute
necessity for the economic development of Guyana and its resources.

Their non-comprehensions of the value of practical science (as opposed to
the propaganda of claiming to be supporting and or doing science) gets worse
as evidenced by the continued underdevelopment of our resources, the poverty
of our people, and the fact that they have no sound plans - since they do
not listen to the expert technical advice and suggestions of non-PPP party
personnel.

Several people (including myself) have been writing about the necessity for
the proper funding of science and technology, and research and development
in Guyana . We simply cannot meet current needs and are not preparing to
meet the future needs of Guyana .

His Excellency, President B. Jagdeo knows that there is no serious science
being done in Guyana . He knows that no significant scientific (pure and
applied) research is being done at UG. His Government has never budgeted for
this over the years.

The President as the ex-Finance Minister knows that nothing was and is being
done to lay a proper foundation for the development of our own scientists.
The President should therefore realise that anything he says (at this
"Historic" Bio-conference) would not be consistent with his past government
policies.

We read the following: "In a statement issued by President Bharrat Jagdeo,
delivered by the Prime Minster Samuel Hinds, it was noted that understanding
the status of biological sciences is most necessary for conservation and
sustainable utilisation of the region's rich biological diversity.

"In the statement, the President appeals to the scientific community and all
disciplines in the University of Guyana to take full advantage of the
historic international conference and to develop strong links with visiting
participants and their institutions." (See: Historic Bio Conference
commences - Guyanese urged to take full advantage, KN 25th Sept., 2007).

I am not sure what makes this conference "historic". There have been other
conferences in Guyana - maybe the organisers can enlighten us as to its
historical significance. Hearing that we have great potential is nothing
new, every Guyanese know this. That is an old song. (I have been hearing
this since my primary school days.)

One of the perks of a visiting scientist is traveling to distant places to
attend conferences with your airfare and hotel accommodation being paid. A
poster is presented and/or a talk is given. It is a good getaway from the
serious research, especially to an 'exotic' tropical place few know about.

It is a great conversation/slide show for the visiting conference attendees
on their return to their own research/work setting. Hopefully, they also
might contemplate on what they have seen and heard - in this case the
unbelievable gross neglect of science despite all the government's talk, the
rundown University with no teaching and research facilities, the solicited
obligation to help, and the shock of so much poverty in the midst of so much
beauty and plentiful resources, etc.

We are further told: "The conference stands as an arena to highlight ongoing
biological science research within the regions.

It aims to share and disseminate information on knowledge and scientific
research related to Biology in the Caribbean and around the world.

It will also provide participants with opportunities for collaboration and
networking among Universities and other scientific institutions for
promoting research and developing technologies." (KN, 24th Sept., 2007).

I would add that that since no meaningful and innovative research is being
done at UG, and no new funding has been announced, the status quo (absence
of: labs, facilities, and infrastructure) will remain the same.

So how can UG "highlight ongoing biological science," or "share and
disseminate information on knowledge and scientific research?"

Therefore, I also cannot see how any meaningful "opportunities for
collaboration and networking" can be set up. For example, the Biology labs
are in a state of disrepair. There was a hole in the floor, windows cannot
close or open, and the plumbing and electrification were defective (fire
hazards), despite the EU grant/loan to repair the labs.

No one was ever charged for misappropriation of these funds. How can any
government permit misappropriation of funds for education? We must ask why
this is allowed to happen.

When I came to UG, I had planned to set up collaborations with various
reputable scientists. The people I spoke with were willing to play their
part in areas of expertise that I lack or could not do locally.

However, as stated before, I could not do any basic research (no: research
labs, equipment, and infrastructure, funding, etc).

From my knowledge and experience, in any scientific collaboration, one has
to do some serious work; and only research work outside one's own field or
expertise is sent to a collaborator.

Most collaborators would not want to do all the scientific work and put the
name of a person who does not have the capacity to contribute to the
research work on the publication - that contribution has to be earned by
scientific work.

During my tenure at the University of Guyana , all that I possibly do is
essentially to collect and ship samples overseas; and even this would be
prohibited by the bureaucracy and red tape of the EPA.

As stated before no one gets his/her name on a publication without serious
scientific input, and the most that one will get is an acknowledgement in a
footnote - for providing samples! My ordeal at UG was magnified with the
prospect of being only someone else's 'mere sample collector.' That is
definitely not science. In addition, no Guyanese is being trained, and
Guyanese are unlikely to benefit.

Science is a tough business and collaboration has to be done with peers on
an equal footing - from a position of strength. Most of the work has to be
done in Guyana by Guyanese scientists.

Our people have to look out for our own interests or else it will be like
forestry - the Asian companies get the lumber and we get plundered; or, like
mining - the mining companies get the gold and we get the holes and mercury
spills.

The people (however well-intentioned) who are talking and advocating of
doing collaborative work have probably never had the international
experience of being in the frontlines of serious and meaningful science in
world class labs.

The locals who participate will be reduced to the role as sample collectors
because the University of Guyana lacks facilities on all fronts. It is
probably this basic understanding that the President, his ruling elite, and
his 'scientific advisors' do not comprehend, hence his further
counter-productive government policies, which unfortunately have serious
negative effects on development and on the University and Guyana.

Hence this conference is most likely another attempt to deceive the Guyanese
people that the government is seriously doing something to promote science
and scientific research.

It is time that His Excellency, President B Jagdeo and his ruling elite do
the right thing for Guyana . It is hard for the President and the PPP to
escape the judgment of the People and of History.

Seelochan Beharry PhD



Guyana contributes negligibly to greenhouse emissions
Guyana Chronicle
September 28, 2007

It was good to see Guyana's lobbying efforts for standing forests reaching
the international arena and our Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo again taking
the lead in this regard.

I noticed in the press the President joining the dialogue with the United
Nations Secretary General for support at the political level for action to
address climate change. This is a positive step towards our development.

Guyana came face-to-face with the effects of climate change after the flood
of 2005 which resulted in significant loss to the country's GDP and the need
for adequate adaptation was clearly defined.

The President however, made the correct point that Guyana has a negligible
contribution to greenhouse gases and our forest resources are intact, which
is a critical asset to climate change mitigation.

I hope our President's lobby is fulfilled. Let's all lend our support for a
better Guyana.
Hackett